Books

A first edition, first printing published by Methuen in 1907. A very good book without inscriptions. Some wear to the spine and to the corners and hinges. Small stain to the rear board. A little spotting to the prelims. The requisite 40 pages of adverts dated September 1907 to the rear. A very good copy. "The Secret Agent" by Joseph Conrad, published in 1907, is a novel that delves into the murky world of espionage and anarchism in late 19th-century London. The story centres around Adolf Verloc, a secret agent who owns a small, dingy shop selling pornography. Unbeknownst to his family, Verloc is also a spy for an unnamed foreign embassy. Verloc's handlers demand he incite a terrorist act to provoke the British government into cracking down on anarchists. He is coerced into plotting a bombing at the Greenwich Observatory. Involving his vulnerable brother-in-law, Stevie, in the scheme, Verloc's plan goes tragically awry when Stevie dies in the explosion meant to target the observatory. The novel explores the psychological and moral dimensions of its characters, particularly Verloc, his stoic wife Winnie, and the anarchist circle. Conrad's narrative critiques the futility and destructiveness of terrorism and the duplicity of political machinations. The book's dark, ironic tone and its examination of the impacts of political extremism on ordinary lives resonate strongly with modern themes of security and surveillance. "The Secret Agent" is considered one of Conrad's finest works, notable for its atmospheric depiction of London and its complex, multi-layered narrative structure. It has influenced numerous adaptations in film, theater, and television.

The Secret Agent, first published in 1907, is one of Joseph Conrad's later political novels which portray the darker aspects of human nature.